Week of 10/6/23
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
What a week! The power of community is alive and well!
Thank you, sincerely and deeply, for choosing HPA as your school ʻohana. This week is one of my favorite times of year. There are a few themes I emphasize with our students and staff each year. One that shines through on weeks like this is the act of “embracing the power of community.”
From seeing you at our Upper School’s Experience HPA! on Wednesday to hosting many of you in my home later that night and feeling the buzz of in-person Parent-teacher Conferences yesterday — our Upper School ʻOhana Days are a blend of all things good. With a mix of laughter and learning, it is the interconnectedness of people and purpose that elevates our student experiences.
Humbled at the brilliance and delivery of our academic program by our Upper School faculty this week, as a parent with my own classroom visits, I have now asked the social studies department to delete the kahoot standings based on my low ranking, and am still working on the glucose molecule model for the Biology class. In all seriousness, a connection made between parents, students, and faculty provides the depth and direction needed to best support student learning and growth.
This loving and encouraging foundation is built upon us — their community — those who believe in their journey, show up for their celebrations and falls, hold the line of guidance and encouragement, and watch from the sidelines with nerves ablaze and heart-bursting hopes for their happiness.
I am absolutely certain that these sentiments and emotions are shared by our collective family community — this is powerful. And these common strong bonds are contagious. It is this energy, our community energy, that underlines and facilitates our young people to strive with a spirit of aloha and have the space to try fearlessly. Our collective love and the way we show up for their education and student life is vital to the HPA mission. We provide exceptional learning opportunities in a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawaiʻi… and, we do this well because of you, our school ʻohana. The power of community is tangible and real on both of our campuses every day.
I am reminded of this natural evolution each year at this time where we meet new families and connect them with current and even past supporters of the school. There are so many amazing stories and experiences represented by our families — this ever-expanding and strengthening net of resources for which our students and our school can rely. During ʻOhana Days the power of community is both inspiring and palpable.
A very special addition to our week was the screening of Hometown Legends, which I hope you were able to enjoy. Current Lower School parent Kolby Moser is an inspiration and continues to share her craft of storytelling and meaningful understanding through film. I need tissues every time!! This particular documentary strikes so many chords for me both personally and professionally — the idea of passing on knowledge, of listening and respecting and evolving, the honoring of wisdom beyond ourselves, and the responsibility to carry that on to others. As educators, parents, care providers, and family members we are constantly thinking about the passing of information and the continuum of learning. We are committed to the work of sharing what we know or wonder about with the next generation so that they will not forget where and who they have come from and so that they look and step forward with humble confidence and an interest in serving and improving their communities.
Mahalo for joining me in this, each day, and into our futures. Mahalo for contributing to the power of community.
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 10/6/23
Lower School
Each week, Lower School Principal Dora Kwong writes a message to K-5 families highlighting joyful moments and meaningful lessons and offering a glimpse into what students and parents can plan for in the weeks ahead.
From the desk of your Division Principal, Dora Kwong
Aloha Lower School families,
As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, the month of October brings in the beginnings of the Makahiki season and a wide variety of learning experiences and community gatherings for our Lower School students and ʻohana.
Grades 3 -5 families: Save the Date!
Grades 3, 4, and 5 will present a musical program on Friday, October 13, based on the popular children’s book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Students will be telling this fun story about Max, a mischief maker, who finds himself somewhere new and spectacular! The children have been working diligently during these beginning weeks rehearsing folk songs that help to tell the story of the book, as well as playing a variety of musical instruments including xylophones and drums! The musical starts at 2:15 pm, at Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC), on our Upper Campus.
In preparation for this performance, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders must be dropped off at GPAC for rehearsals on Wednesday, October 11, and Thursday, October 12 between 7:40 to 8:00 am. They will be bussed back to the Village Campus for the remainder of the day and pick up as usual.
K-5 families, please note: our kindergarten – 2nd graders will get to be in the audience for this performance, and all Lower School students will be dismissed from Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on Friday, October 13, at 3:00 pm.
Our amazing Lower School ART STUDIO needs your help!
Are you good at following directions and checking tasks off a list? Or are you an avid Pinterest browser with a knack for organization and label-making? Lower School Art Teacher, Ms. Alexa Hustace, is looking for both types of individuals, and all those in between, to help us organize and beautify the Village Campus Art Studio! Our amazing LS Art Studio is in the middle of a redesign and we need you!! Please sign up here to volunteer and help us out in the Art Studio!
Additional Student IDs
Does your child need an additional school ID for outside-of-school events? Please email villagecampusoffice@hpa.edu and we can get one sorted for you. $3 will be charged to your KaMakaniCash account.
ʻOhana Association Community Events
Our ʻOhana Association has been busy planning and organizing some major upcoming community events! Coming up on Friday, October 20, we kick off the fall season will ROCKTOBER! From 3:15 until 5:30 pm, families and students are invited to enjoy music from world-reknowned DJ and fellow HPA parent, JBoogie, as you participate in activities such as scavenger hunts, rock painting, festival games, lei making, and even horse carriage rides! Food will be available for purchase from food trucks, and families are also welcome to bring their own to this outdoor picnic-style event. Please note children must have a parent present to sign a waiver in order to participate in the horse carriage ride.
Our ʻOhana Association is also happy to announce our Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series, a thoughtfully curated series of events and gatherings for HPA families who want a deeper understanding of place and connection to culture. Take a look a this attached flyer and join us!
Lower School Parent-teacher Conferences
Hard to believe Parent-teacher Conferences are upon us! Coming up on Thursday, October 26, and Friday, October 27 — this is an important opportunity for families to connect with their child’s teachers, learn about their progress and goals, and share information with one another. Families also have the opportunity to sign up to meet with our specialist teachers – Mrs. Mallory Di Bartolo, K-8 Music and Performing Arts Teacher; Ms. Betsy Tranquilli (“Coach T”), K-5 PE Teacher; Mrs. Alexa Hustace, K-5 Art Teacher; Kristin Tarnas, K-8 Librarian, as well as our K-8 Counselor, Mrs. Rachel Baydo, and K-8 Learning Support Specialist, Mr. Joe Ludes. Please look out for a communication from Aunty Lynn and the Village Campus office in the coming days with steps for how to sign up.
I look forward to connecting with you in person soon!
Mālama pono,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, October 9.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Lower School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
• Friday, October 13 at 2:15 pm: Grades 3-5 Musical; Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) on the Upper Campus
• Friday, October 20 from 3:15 to 5:30 pm: Rocktober!; Village Campus
• Thursday, October 26 to Friday, October 27: Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences; in-person on the Village Campus; no classes
HPA Admissions Open House
HPA will be hosting Open House events for all three divisions — Lower, Middle, and Upper School — in the month of November. Please help us spread the word!
Lower School
November 1, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Middle School
November 8, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Upper School
November 10, 8:30 to 11:00 am
As a reminder, the 2024-2025 application is now available online to apply any HPA siblings and share with your friends and family. The admissions team will also be out “on the road” in a variety of locations locally and around the world to meet up with prospective students, parents, alumni, and more! We look forward to many good times together as we dive into the new school year. Mahalo for your partnership and enthusiasm for HPA!
Helpful Lower School Contacts & Links
Student Support
- Ms. Rachel Baydo, K-8 School Counselor, rbaydo@hpa.edu
- Mr. Joe Ludes, K-8 Learning Specialist, jludes@hpa.edu
After School Program, K-5
Mrs. Mele DeMille, Director of After School Programs, mdemille@hpa.edu
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Lower School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to Past Parent Email Communications, 2023-2024.
myHPA
In addition to Seesaw, many important resources can be located on our community portal, myHPA. Check the Lower School Family Resources tile for the most up-to-date information.
Middle School
Each week, Middle School Principal Glenn Chickering pens a note to 6-8 families reflecting on the activities and accomplishments of the week and previewing what students and parents can look forward to in the coming days.
From the desk of your Division Principal, Glenn Chickering
Aloha Middle School families,
We hope you made it to our Lip Sync last week, where our students threatened to blow the roof off the place — or at least coat the floor with everything they could dream up. It was fun to see the enthusiasm they put into their performances. Each year there are a number of students who surprise us with the way they step up and let it out. Performing in front of a few hundred people comprised of peers, teachers, and parents is certainly a recipe for anxiety, but the atmosphere created by everybody helps to reinforce that everybody is safe to join that energy and enjoy the moment. And we are so grateful for everybody in attendance who helped move that energy level up more than a few more notches. Fun times! An extra special thank you to the parents who helped decorate, supply snacks, and especially clean up afterward. Please remind me to add some bylaws about projectiles next year.
We are now turning our attention to next week’s Mālama Kaiāulu Theme Week. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we made adjustments to this annual Middle School event during the 2020 – 2022 school years. As a result, we worked to keep our grade levels together during Theme Week and focused on outdoor activities on our island to limit mixing, travel, and spending long hours together in indoor spaces. Among the great benefits of this model have been the opportunities to create more authentic connections with our curriculum, communities, island culture and ecosystems, and class bonding. Connecting with our communities and curriculum like this has inspired us to rename Theme Week to Mālama Kaiāulu Theme Week.
This year’s Mālama Kaiāulu Theme Week will once again see our students around the island and even returning to Oʻahu after a three-year hiatus. Grade 6 will be participating in a variety of learning, exploration, and service experiences in our surrounding area with the purpose of building healthy relationships with each other and our environment, developing a sense of place, and cultivating lasting memories
Grade 7 will be traveling to Oʻahu to visit Pearl Harbor, connecting with their U.S. History curriculum and visiting a number of historical sites while sleeping onboard the U.S.S. Missouri. They will have the opportunity to not only learn about these important historical events and places but also engage in a variety of experiential learning opportunities.
Grade 8 will be traveling to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and connecting to both their science and Hawaiian Studies curriculum. Ms. Kawakami, Kumu Kūwalu and the grade 8 advisors have put together a trip that will have our students engaging with a variety of cultural and environmental aspects of this beautiful island we call home.
If you have any questions about your child’s itinerary, please reach out to their advisor.
We hope you were able to catch our first installment of the Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series. These workshops are opportunities for our HPA ʻohana to learn together and connect moʻoleo, immersive experiences, and stewardship opportunities. Please see this flyer for the schedule.
Speaking of the ʻOhana Association — they are also busy planning Rocktober, a fun event at the Village Campus for Friday, October 20 in celebration of the fall season that includes scavenger hunts, rock painting, festival games, lei making, and even horse carriage rides! Please note children must have a parent present to sign a waiver in order to participate in the horse carriage ride.
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Schedule
Our Middle School 2023-2024 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, October 9.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Middle School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
• Monday, October 9 to Thursday, October 12: Middle School Mālama Kaiāulu Theme Week
• Friday, October 13: No classes for Middle School students
• Friday, October 20 from 3:15 to 5:30 pm: Rocktober!; Village Campus
• Thursday, October 26 to Friday, October 27: Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences; in-person on the Village Campus; no classes
HPA Admissions Open House
HPA will be hosting Open House events for all three divisions — Lower, Middle, and Upper School — in the month of November. Please help us spread the word!
Lower School
November 1, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Middle School
November 8, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Upper School
November 10, 8:30 to 11:00 am
As a reminder, the 2024-2025 application is now available online to apply any HPA siblings and share with your friends and family. The admissions team will also be out “on the road” in a variety of locations locally and around the world to meet up with prospective students, parents, alumni, and more! We look forward to many good times together as we dive into the new school year. Mahalo for your partnership and enthusiasm for HPA!
Helpful Middle School Contacts & Links
Student Support
- Ms. Rachel Baydo, K-8 School Counselor, rbaydo@hpa.edu
- Mr. Joe Ludes, K-8 Learning Specialist, jludes@hpa.edu
After School Program, Grades 6-8
Mrs. Mele DeMille, Director of After School Programs, mdemille@hpa.edu
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Middle School Family Resource tile on myHPA and scrolling down to ‘Past Email Communications, 2022-2023’.
myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the ‘Middle School Family Resources’, and the ‘Middle School Student Resources’.
myHPA Tutorials
myHPA is your window to your child’s progress in school. Here you will find their schedules, their assignments, their grade books and so much more. Ms. Monello and our IT team have put together a number of tutorials to help you navigate the myHPA parent portal.
Please note this myHPA Middle School Parent Tutorial, which gives you an overview of using myHPA as a window to your child’s learning in real time.
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā maka o ka ʻupena a ka makani!
E hea i ke kanaka e komo ma loko e hānai ai a hewa ka waha. This line that has been chosen to open this week’s bulletin is the opening line of an oli komo (welcoming chant) that is often used to welcome visitors to a space. As a traditional practice here in Hawaiʻi, an oli kāhea is often used by a visitor upon their arrival to announce their presence, display good intentions, and possibly share their relationship or familial connection with those being visited. The opening line is an example of a response that lets the visitor know they are welcome and encouraged to enter and to partake in sharing a meal that would satisfy their hunger, especially after a long journey.
We are very grateful for the many of you who were able to join us here on campus for our ʻOhana Days. To those of you who were unable to join us, we hope that your opportunity to visit our campus will be available at some point in the future. The opportunity to re-open our campus and invite families to experience a taste of the learning environment and daily routines of our students has been very special to us. The energy that you all brought to campus was palpable, and it was inspiring to see the students become tour guides for their parents. It was a truly special time.
On a personal note, I really enjoyed the conversations that I was able to share with many of our visiting parents. The feedback about your time on campus is greatly appreciated, and we will surely do our best to maintain and improve upon opportunities like this in the future. After not being able to meet many of you during our Opening Days at the start of the school year, I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for everyone who took a moment to share their condolences for the loss that my family experienced at the start of the year. I may not have been able to find the words to articulate the impact that your words have had on me at the moment, and I want you to know that it is deeply appreciated and your aloha in those moments is truly heartfelt. I would also like to thank the many of you who mentioned reading these weekly messages that we compose for our HPA community. Knowing that our efforts in these messages are appreciated is really helpful.
To close this week’s message, I would like to use the last two lines of the oli that began this message, which completes the entirety of the most commonly used version of this oli. The last lines are as follows. Eia nō ka uku lā, ʻo ka leo, a he leo wale nō, ʻae. For this is the reward, my words, my voice, for that is all that I may have to give. Mahalo nui.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Schedule
Our Upper School 2023-2024 Daily Schedule will resume as an ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, October 9.
We encourage all students and families to access the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Upper School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
• Wednesday, October 11: Grade-level special schedule
• Friday, October 13 from 8:50 to 9:50 am: Photo Retake Day, Taylor Commons Conference room
• Friday, October 27: Haunted Walk; Upper School
Student Support
Should your child need additional learning support, we encourage you to reach out to Amanda Aragon, our Upper School Learning Center Coordinator, by emailing aaragon@hpa.edu. In addition, our counselors are ready to assist any student who needs additional support to navigate these unusual and unprecedented times. Please feel free to reach out to the Upper Campus counseling team of Tiffany Freitas at 808-881-4038 or tfreitas@hpa.edu and Steve Furchner at 808-640-4441 or sfurchner@hpa.edu.
ʻOhana Days
Saturday, October 7: Ka Makani Football
Our HPA Football team goes head-to-head against Kāʻu on Saturday, October 7, at 3:00 pm. We’re looking forward to all of our K-12 HPA families and on-island alumni joining us in the stands to cheer on our Ka Makani. Want to gear up for the big game? Sounds like you need Makani Merch! We got you covered with a pop-up HPA Student Store at our football field concession stand starting at 2:30 pm. Our fans will also have the opportunity to fuel up with several food truck offerings, including Jaw Jacker Grindz, Sugar Shack, and Wilson’s Snack Shack.
Residential Life
It has been a pleasure getting to see so many of our extended residential ʻohana around campus this weekend, and your children were excited to have you around! We hope that you will continue to attend on-campus events throughout the weekend, including Friday afternoon’s cross country race and Saturday afternoon’s home football game against Kaʻū! While much of the excitement for the students this weekend is around being able to spend time with their families off-campus, the on-campus community continues to thrive and bustle along, and we look forward to having you as a part of it!
Looking ahead, we are beginning to collect travel information for all of our students for Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks. Campus will remain open during Thanksgiving Break, though most students will choose to travel home, stay with friends, or participate in our student travel program options. During Winter Break, campus is closed, and all students are expected to travel to the care of their parents for those three weeks. If you have your child’s travel information already, please send it to travel@hpa.edu at your earliest convenience so that we can plan shuttle buses to and from the Kona airport.
Ka Makani Athletics
Here’s the updated fall athletic schedule and weekly schedule. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
Student Life
Freshman Class Representatives Election
We are beginning the Freshman Class Elections process! Every year, in October, we elect three freshmen to represent their class. By holding the election in October, it allows new students a chance to get to know one another before the election.
Timeline
- Thursday, October 11: Each applicant will give a 2-minute speech to their class followed by electronic voting
- Friday, October 12: Winners are announced
Upcoming Student Life Events:
- Saturday, October 14: Join Student Council at the District Park as they sell pumpkins at the Waimea Fall Festival, this is a fundraising event! All are invited to this fun community event.
- Friday, October 27: Haunted Walk
- October 30 to November 3: Upper School Spirit Week
- Saturday, November 4: Fall Ball, Kahilu Town Hall
Ka Makani Travel
Ka Makani Travel, HPA’s student travel program, is offering five trips for the 2023-24 school year.
- Thanksgiving – Kauaʻi Island: Applications are due Wednesday, October 11
- Spring Break – Expedition to Australia & New Zealand with EF Tours: Enrollment deadline is Wednesday, November 13
- Summer – Splendors of the Mediterranean: Italy & Greece with EF Tours: Enrollment deadline is Monday, February 5, 2024
- Spring Break 2025 Japan: Land of the Rising Sun with EF Tours: Open for enrollment
Don’t hesitate to contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration, eligibility, and travel grants.
HPA Admissions Open House
HPA will be hosting Open House events for all three divisions — Lower, Middle, and Upper School — in the month of November. Please help us spread the word!
Lower School
November 1, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Middle School
November 8, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Upper School
November 10, 8:30 to 11:00 am
As a reminder, the 2024-2025 application is now available online to apply any HPA siblings and share with your friends and family. The admissions team will also be out “on the road” in a variety of locations locally and around the world to meet up with prospective students, parents, alumni, and more! We look forward to many good times together as we dive into the new school year. Mahalo for your partnership and enthusiasm for HPA!
College Counseling
College Visits, October 9 – October 13, 2023
Visit will take place from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm
Monday, October 9: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA) via Zoom: Virginia Tech
PSAT Exam Wednesday, October 11, 2023
On Wednesday, October 11, we will be hosting an in-school PSAT exam for HPA 10th and 11th graders. Students must bring a fully charged laptop with a minimum of a 3-hour battery life, a power cord, a portable charger (if you have one), a pen or pencil, an approved calculator, a valid photo ID, and a water bottle and snacks for breaks.
Sophomores must check in at Castle Gym between 7:30 to 7:45 am. Standard testing will take place from approximately 8:00 to 11:30 am.
Juniors will be sent an email with their room assignment and must check in at their assigned classroom between 11:30 to 11:45 am.
All 10th and 11th graders are required to take the PSAT unless they have received prior approval to opt-out.
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Upper School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to ‘Past Email Communications, 2022-2023’.
myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the ‘Upper School Family Resources and the ‘Upper School Student Resources.
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
HPA Today
Get ready to give!
Our annual family giving participation effort is revving up! Learn more about the HPA Fund and how to make a difference for our Ka Makani community.
Ulumau & Ulu Mālama Gardens of HPA
Join us in the garden! We have planned several upcoming community workdays to learn and grow together. All are welcome, please use this link to sign up or email wquayle@hpa.edu or lprutrow@hpa.edu with any questions.
Admissions
HPA will be hosting Open House events for all three divisions — Lower, Middle, and Upper School — in the month of November. Please help us spread the word!
Lower School
November 1, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Middle School
November 8, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Upper School
November 10, 8:30 to 11:00 am
As a reminder, the 2024-2025 application is now available online to apply any HPA siblings and share with your friends and family. The admissions team will also be out “on the road” in a variety of locations locally and around the world to meet up with prospective students, parents, alumni, and more! We look forward to many good times together as we dive into the new school year. Mahalo for your partnership and enthusiasm for HPA!
Advancement & Alumni
Alu Mai 2023
HPA’s Alu Mai Gala in support of Financial Aid is right around the corner!
You’re Invited | E Alu Mai!
Saturday, November 18, 2023
5:00 to 10:00 pm
HPA Upper Campus
HPA’s Alu Mai 2023 proudly marks fifty years of commitment to Financial Aid. Founded in 1973 by Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske — legendary Waimea rancher, pāʻū rider, hostess extraordinaire, and founding trustee — HPA’s gala and auction is a proud tradition and fabulous party.
Come with a generous heart and enjoy a fabulous night of dinner, dancing, and giving for future generations.
Health & Wellness
We are seeing positive cases of influenza and strep throat in our community. Please monitor yourself for symptoms of illness, stay home if you don’t feel well, and let the infirmary on your campus know if you’ll be absent. After any illness, students must be fever-free, without the use of fever reducing medications, for at least 24 hours before they can return to school. Students who are absent for more than five days are required to bring a note from their health care provider clearing them for return. Please refer to your respective division’s handbook for more information on our illness policy.
Lower School Handbook
Upper School Handbook
COVID-19 Policies & Information
HPA COVID-19 Policy, 2023-2024
COVID-19 Decision Tree.
ʻOhana Association
Rocktober!
You’re invited to join your fellow HPA ‘ohana for Rocktober at Village Campus, on Friday, October 20 from 3:15 to 5:30 pm!
Rocktober is a new Village Campus family social event to bring the entire HPA K-8 community together. Rocktober will include a DJ, games,a scavenger hunt, food trucks, rock painting, and horse carriage rides. We will welcome fall and get warmed up for Halloween!
The ʻOhana Association is looking for parent volunteers to help with preparations ahead of time and also the day of (game and activity supervisors). If you haven’t volunteered to help with an event before, this is a great opportunity to meet people, become more connected with HPA, and support the students. Come and help us make this an awesome event for all K-8 students and families! Sign up to volunteer here!
Mahalo to our fantastic 2nd and 4th-grade families for planning this exciting event!
If you have any questions please email ohana@hpa.edu.
Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series
The ʻOhana Association proudly presents Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series, a thoughtfully curated series of gatherings for HPA families who want a deeper understanding of place and connection to culture. The events will be guided by Kumu Kūwalu Anakalea and local kūpuna, and has been organized by HPA Lower School parent Kolby Akumu Moser.
We will be inviting kūpuna and cultural practitioners to HPA to talk about this incredible place we get to call home, host hands-on workshops such as lei-making, and guide huaka’i (trips) such as visiting Manaua and a family work day at Ulumau Puanui. The series is designed for HPA families to keep up with the cultural learnings of our keiki.
The Ti Leaf Lei Workshop at Village Campus on Friday, October 20, from 3:15 to 5:30 pm is the next event in the series. This activity is part of the Village Campus Rocktober event. Making lei is an important aspect of HPA programs and there is a need to grow our community of lei-makers!
What is Wā Pilina and why is that the name of this series?
The word pilina means association, relationship, and connection. Wā refers to a period of time. HPA started the Lower School Wā Pilina program two years ago in order to have intentional time and space for Lower Schoolers to connect with others under the umbrella of, and in connection to, mālama kaiāulu. Lower School students meet across grade levels to connect with and learn from one another. From Enrichment Day to art shows and Makahiki games to reading times — Wā Pilina opportunities have expanded through the three divisions, as well as across specialty areas.
Our new Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series aligns school and ʻOhana Association practices with intentionality. We hope you will join us!
Volunteers needed for Upper School’s fall sports Athletics Fuel Station
In partnership with HPA Athletics, the HPA ʻOhana Association is looking for parent volunteers to help staff the Athletics Fuel Station for the fall sports programs.
- What: Athletics Fuel Station
- Days: Mondays through Thursdays
- Times: 2:45 to 3:45 pm (Fuel Station operates from 3:00 to 3:30 pm)
- Place: Castle Gymnasium concession booth
- Duration: now until Thursday, October 26
Parent help is requested from 2:45-3:45, which includes set up, assistance, and clean up.
To sign up, please click here. If you have any questions, please email Melissa Samura at samuraohana2003@gmail.com.
Isaacs Art Center
Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment. Gallery works for sale may also be viewed on our website. Be sure to also visit our Instagram and Facebook pages for highlights from ongoing exhibitions. Sales from gallery artwork have supported the HPA Financial Aid program since its opening in 2004.
Safety Protocols
Campus Access
During this time, campus access is limited to current students, employees, essential contractors, and approved guests — all of whom have completed a daily thermal/symptom check and a screening questionnaire. Guests to campus will have had their hosting faculty or staff member fill out the appropriate form and will have received permission from their supervisor.
Should a student’s family member need a meeting with a faculty, staff, or administrative team member, kindly contact them so that they can apply to have you come to campus. From that point, security team members will be alerted to your appointment date and time and let you onto campus.
At the Upper School, please do not park and walk onto campus without an appointment. Similarly, at the Village Campus, kindly call or email for an appointment so that arrangements can be made. Mahalo for your understanding and respect for this process.
If you See Something, Say Something
We ask all families to join HPA in keeping our campus safe. While on the HPA campus, if you see anything out of the ordinary, we ask that you please report it to the school or local authorities immediately. This will help us maintain the safest campus for our students.
• Imminent threat to life or property: call 911 immediately and email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
• Anything out of the ordinary: email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
CrisisGo for Parents
It is important that all families are set up with CrisisGo, HPA’s school emergency communication tool. To set up a CrisisGo SMS/Email subscription, please click on this invitation link and complete the form by adding your name, email, and cell number (this is an important step if you would like to receive an SMS message) and click on the Subscribe button. Should an emergency occur, you will be alerted by email and SMS messaging. You can also locate these instructions by logging into myHPA, clicking on the resource tab, and selecting the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile.
Safe2SPeakUp for Middle and Upper Students
Similarly, Middle and Upper School students received instructions during orientation on how to upload the Safe2SpeakUp app. This is a companion app to CrisisGo. It will allow the school to alert students of emergencies that happen on or off campus and enable students to communicate with us about their safety status. They can also use the app to alert the school about any behaviors they are concerned about. Students can also locate instructions on setting up Safe2SpeakUp in myHPA, and they were also emailed the video shown at orientation which walks them through the process of uploading the app and registering, step-by-step.
All students can also submit an Online Bully/Harassment report by clicking on this link, which can also be located on the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile on myHPA.
myHPA Resource Boards
Past HPA communications and other important information can be found on myHPA. We are continuing to make updates to our student and parent resource boards, so please be sure to visit them regularly.